Laikyn
And then there was only one.
Me.
I exhaled heavily and tipped back the rest of my drink as Jinx walked away. While we’d been intermittently chatting—him answering me with text messages—he sent one to say he’d be right back. I didn’t ask where he was going, but I assumed the restroom. That or he was sneaking out the back with Rule, and I would have to find my way back to LA because they’d both abandoned me in this fancy hotel.
Did it really matter if they did? At the moment, I didn’t care much about anything, thanks to the alcohol. The bartender had been generous with my doubles, and I could feel the warmth in my veins and a pleasant fuzzy sensation in my brain.
At least they’d had the decency to leave me in a nice place. I’d been to plenty of hotels in my lifetime, carted around because my presence suited my mother’s image at the time. But she’d never brought me anywhere that looked like this. I found I liked the energy of the place, although I had no desire to gamble. Jinx had tried to persuade me shortly before he excused himself, but I’d declined his offer. I didn’t trust myself not to get caught up in it, and right now, I had a feeling I needed to keep my wits about me.
Granted, the vodka tonic had started to diminish my wit. After the third one, I could finally breathe again. I was nervous, but I had no idea why I should be. Rule hadn’t told me why he brought me here, but I knew he had a motive. Something to do with my father. Otherwise, why not just lay it all on the table back at home?
“Would you like another?” the waitress asked as she passed, heading toward the bar.
I glanced at the lonely ice cubes in the glass and then nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“I’ll have what she’s having,” a man said as he approached, his smile warm enough to tame wild animals.
He moved closer, maintaining a smile as he looked me over. There was scrutiny in his eyes, but it didn’t feel like he was assessing my potential as a possible notch in his bedpost.
“Mind if I join you?”
“I … um…” I glanced in the direction Jinx went. “I’m here with someone.”
He didn’t sit, merely tucked his hands into the pockets of his ridiculously expensive slacks.
“Two people, actually,” I continued, unable to stop myself from rambling. “Rule and Jinx. They’re my … uh…” I frowned. “I don’t really know what to call them.”
He didn’t speak, merely allowed me to continue spewing nonsense.
“One’s my husband,” I said, though my tone would lead him to believe I wasn’t certain about that status. “The other, my … boyfriend?”
“And they know each other?”
“Oh, yeah.” I grinned. “Biblically.”
Oh, shit. I honestly hadn’t meant to reveal that.
The stranger chuckled, but he never looked away. He didn’t seem worried that my husband and boyfriend might return any second. Or that they might be off getting biblically acquainted with one another while I waited.
“I’ve got a couple of those,” he said, crossing his ankles as he leaned against one of the large columns that held up the ceiling.
“Biblical boyfriends?”
He laughed, and it boomed through the space. It was jovial enough to make me laugh.
“No. But I do have a wife and a husband.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “I thought that was illegal.”
“I guess technically it is. I’m not legally wed to both of them.”
“Ah. You just sleep with them both?”
His forehead creased, and his green eyes glittered. “It’s a bit more involved than that. We’re building a life together.”
“So it can be done?”
